Ahrenkiel Steamship and H Vogemann Reederei said they will merge their technical management operations for bulk carriers into a new joint venture.

Ahrenkiel Vogemann Bulk will manage a fleet of 14 bulkers including three vessels of Hamburg-based KG Reederei Roth.

The fleet’s initially will focus on supramax and panamax segments, but there are plans to branch out into other size categories, the two German shipping companies said.

Jens-Michael Arndt, managing partner of the H Vogemann Group

Two handysize vessels are expected to go into service at Reederei Roth in the first quarter of 2017 and will likewise be managed by the new joint venture.